When and Where
7:10 p.m. ET (NESN), Aug. 28, 2009
Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
Records
Red Sox (73-54, 2nd place in AL East)
Blue Jays (58-67, 4th place in AL East)
Head to Head
Boston is 8-4 against the Jays this season and swept them in their last meeting last week in Toronto. The BoSox haven't hosted the Jays since mid-May, when they swept the Toronto club in a three-game series, outscoring them 15-5. Toronto is coming to town with fresh legs as Cito Gaston's crew had Thursday night off after dropping 2-of-3 games to the Rays.
Starting Lineups
| Blue Jays | Red Sox |
| Marco Scutaro, SS | Jacoby Ellsbury, CF |
| Aaron Hill, 2B | Dustin Pedroia, 2B |
| Adam Lind, LF | Victor Martinez, 1B |
| Lyle Overbay, 1B | Kevin Youkilis, 3B |
| Vernon Wells, CF | David Ortiz, DH |
| Randy Ruiz, DH | Jason Bay, LF |
| Rod Barajas, C | J.D. Drew, RF |
| Travis Snider, RF | Jason Varitek, C |
| Jose Bautista, 3B | Alex Gonzalez, SS |
Toronto's lineup will be announced when it becomes available.
Pitching Matchup
RHP Josh Beckett (14-5, 3.65 ERA) vs. RHP Scott Richmond (6-7, 4.09 ERA)
Josh Beckett kicks off the series in search of his 15th win of the season to tie CC Sabathia for the American League lead. Beckett suffered a loss in his last outing – his first defeat in over a month. Beckett allowed eight earned runs on nine hits in eight frames against the Yankees last Sunday night. The righty coughed up a career-high five home runs in the contest.
Facing Beckett will be Scott Richmond, Toronto’s young righty who is in search of his seventh win of the season. Richmond was shut down for the majority of the month of July with shoulder tendinitis. The 29-year-old is winless in his last four starts after kicking off the season with a 4-0 record.
Stat Sheet
Red Sox
With three homers against the White Sox on Thursday, the Red Sox established a new franchise record in August home runs with 48. The previous mark was 46 in the 2003 season.
Junichi Tazawa gave up a career-high nine hits in his third loss of the season and first loss at Fenway Park.
Nick Green made his MLB pitching debut Thursday, going two shutout innings and walking three batters.
J.D. Drew hit two home runs on Thursday night — his 17th and 18th homers of the season. His first homer was followed by an Alex Gonzalez home run. It was the fifth time this season that the Sox went back-to-back.
Jacoby Ellsbury potted a pair of hits Thursday night before being removed from the game with a lower leg injury.
Left fielder Jason Bay picked up his 90th RBI of the season on Thursday.
Blue Jays
Adam Lind is leading the Blue Jays with a .300 BA.
Aaron Hill's 30 homers and 82 RBIs are tops in Toronto's clubhouse, followed by Lind's 25 home runs and 80 RBIs.
Hill, Lind and Travis Snider each have two hits apiece this season against Beckett.
Vernon Wells has five homers and eight RBIs against Beckett — the best career numbers against the Sox ace among current Blue Jays batters.
Lyle Overbay has nine hits in 30 at-bats against Beckett but has struck out 10 times, the most among current Blue Jays batters.
Black and Blue
Red Sox
Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 20 with a mild right shoulder strain. He started for the Sox’ Gulf Coast League team in Fort Myers Monday, going three innings, throwing 37 pitches. He was at Fenway Tuesday in preparation for his next rehab start.
First baseman/outfielder Jeff Bailey was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to July 5 with a left ankle sprain. He began a rehab assignment with the PawSox Aug. 3.
Catcher George Kottaras is on the 15-day DL with a lower back strain. He is on a rehab stint with the PawSox.
Shortstop Jed Lowrie was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to Aug. 7 with ulnar neuritis of the left wrist. He began a rehab assignment with the PawSox Monday.
White Sox
Right-hander Bartolo Colon has been on the DL since July 25 with a right elbow inflammation.
Infielder Chris Getz has been on the DL since Aug. 12 with a strained right oblique.
Right-hander Jake Peavy has been on the DL since June 13 with a strained right ankle tendon. He is rehabbing with AAA Charlotte.
Outfielder DeWayne Wise has been on the DL since Aug. 15 with a strained right AC joint.
This Date in Red Sox History
On Aug. 28, 1982, Red Sox catcher Gary Allenson stepped into the batters' box with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th in a 6-6 tie against the Indians at Fenway Park. Allenson, who had two hits prior to this at-bat, dropped down a bunt to third base to score Carney Lansford for the 7-6 walkoff bunt win.
Overheard
"My biggest concern was, can I fulfill what they're asking for? Can I go out there and pitch and be like I was? Coming off 11 months of Tommy John — major surgery — the last thing you want to do is go out there and not be able to perform the way you have in the past and not help or contribute. They understood what they were looking for and what I could offer and they think I can do it."
–Red Sox reliever Billy Wagner said in Thursday's news conference
Press Box
Red Sox
Billy Wagner is on board and ready to contribute.
Win, lose — it doesn't really matter for Paw Sox skipper Ron Johnson.
Nick Green is a true utility man.
Blue Jays
The Jays won in odd fashion Wednesday night against the Rays.
The Doc has been offering great advice to the young guns.
One Jays rookie has made big adjustments in right field this season.
MLB
The Rangers took care of the Yankees in the Bronx on Thursday afternoon.
Jake Peavy getting a Triple-A start Saturday.
MLB drug list might reach Supreme Court.
Outlook
With Beckett on the bump and a six-game road trip ahead, the time is now for the Sox to pick up a sweep, especially after letting one slip away from the White Sox Thursday. Following this series with the Jays, Boston must travel to Tampa Bay to face the Rays, who are within striking distance in the AL wild card. Also, after Thursday night's miserable showing against the White Sox, the Boston bats need to wake up and give the Jimmy Fund Telethon a nice boost in their second and final night of fund-raising. This year's goal is $5 million for those keeping track!
